House Record, March 19, 2021 — Congressional Record
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated March 19, 2021, at page H1589. It carries one-minute speeches, including Ms. Dean saying the American Rescue Plan, signed the week before, is bringing relief checks and an expanded child tax credit to her district, and Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania urging that whole milk be allowed back into school cafeterias. A tribute to a Savannah business owner also appears. Under Preventing PAYGO Sequestration, Mr. Yarmuth, pursuant to House Resolution 233, calls up H.R. 1868, a bill to prevent across-the-board direct spending cuts, and the text of the bill is printed, followed by remarks from Mr. Smith of Missouri.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“House Record, March 19, 2021 — Congressional Record.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-19-crec-2021-03-19-pt1-pgh1589-3-d9c09a237b/
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March 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1589
Burke owned Superior Sanitation Over the years, milk has been un- creased by the percentage increase in the
Services, sold that company to Waste fairly demonized, leading to the loss of MEI applicable to primary care services fur-
Management, and then founded Atlan- nearly an entire generation of milk nished as of the first day of 2021; or
‘‘(bb) the limit described in paragraph
tic Waste Services in Pooler in 1999. drinkers. The goal of this bill is to give
(2)(A); and
Although Burke grew up with humble children a wide variety of milk options ‘‘(II) with respect to a rural health clinic
beginnings on his family’s dairy farm, and bolster milk consumption, a win- that did not have a per visit payment
he lived a life of immense influence win for growing healthy children and amount established for services furnished in
through his involvement with the America’s dairy farm families. 2020—
Chatham Club, the Rotary Club of Sa- Mr. Speaker, it is time to follow the ‘‘(aa) the per visit payment amount appli-
vannah, the Savannah Yacht Club, and signs and allow whole milk back into cable to such rural health clinic for rural
several other professional organiza- the school cafeterias. With bipartisan health clinic services furnished in 2021; or
‘‘(bb) the limit described in paragraph
tions. support, it is my hope that we can
(2)(A); and’’; and
My thoughts and prayers go out to bring this bill to the floor and pass this (ii) in clause (ii)(I), by striking ‘‘under
all who knew him during this most dif- critical legislation to encourage the clause (i)(I)’’ and inserting ‘‘under subclause
ficult time, especially his son, Ben. healthy development of our Nation’s (I) or (II) of clause (i), as applicable,’’; and
f youth and support our dairy farm fami- (B) in subparagraph (B)—
lies across the country. (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
PENNSYLVANIA BENEFITING striking ‘‘2019, was’’ and inserting ‘‘2020’’;
FROM AID f (ii) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘was’’ after
PREVENTING PAYGO ‘‘(i)’’; and
(Ms. DEAN asked and was given per- (iii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting
mission to address the House for 1 SEQUESTRATION
the following:
minute and to revise and extend her re- Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, pursu- ‘‘(ii)(I) was enrolled under section 1866(j)
marks.) ant to House Resolution 233, I call up (including temporary enrollment during the
Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, last week, the bill (H.R. 1868) to prevent across- emergency period described in section
President Biden signed the American the-board direct spending cuts, and for 1135(g)(1)(B) for such period); or
Rescue Plan. Although the bill received ‘‘(II) submitted an application for enroll-
other purposes, and ask for its imme-
no Republican votes, it has bipartisan ment under section 1866(j) (or requested such
diate consideration. a temporary enrollment for such period) that
support and will have a long-lasting bi- The Clerk read the title of the bill. was received not later than December 31,
partisan impact. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- 2020.’’.
Many constituents in my district ant to House Resolution 233, the bill is (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments
have already received relief checks, considered read. made by this subsection shall take effect as
with as many as 90 million stimulus The text of the bill is as follows: if included in the enactment of the Consoli-
checks out this week. dated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law
H.R. 1868
Yet, this transformative legislation 116–260).
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
goes even further. It expands funding resentatives of the United States of America in (c) ELIGIBILITY FOR REEMPLOYMENT SERV-
to get shots in arms and kids safely in Congress assembled, ICES.—Section 306(a) of the Social Security
school, and it cuts child poverty in half SECTION 1. PREVENTING PAYGO SEQUESTRA-
Act (42 U.S.C. 506(a)) is amended—
with an expanded child tax credit. TION. (1) by striking ‘‘individuals referred to re-
Additionally, we finally targeted re- (a) STATUTORY PAYGO SCORECARDS.—The employment services as described in section
budgetary effects of this Act and the Amer- 303(j)’’ and inserting ‘‘claimants for unem-
lief to our local restaurants and ployment compensation, including claimants
eateries that have been devastated by ican Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–
2) shall not be counted on either PAYGO referred to reemployment services as de-
the pandemic. scribed in section 303(j),’’; and
scorecard maintained pursuant to section
Let’s not forget about our State and 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of (2) by striking ‘‘such individuals’’ and in-
local governments. We will finally be 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)). serting ‘‘such claimants’’.
sending them much-needed aid. (b) SENATE PAYGO SCORECARDS.—The (d) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR CERTAIN HOS-
My home State of Pennsylvania will budgetary effects of this Act shall not be PITALS WITH HIGH DISPROPORATIONATE
receive more than $13 billion. Mont- counted on any PAYGO scorecard main- SHARE.—Effective as if included in the enact-
gomery and Berks Counties, where my tained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. ment of section 203(a) of title II of division
district resides, will receive a com- Res. 71 (115th Congress). CC of Public Law 116–260, subsection (g) of
bined $242 million. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY SUSPENSION section 1923 of the Social Security Act (42
OF MEDICARE SEQUESTRATION. U.S.C. 1396r–4) amended by such section
The American Rescue Plan, and all it
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3709(a) of division 203(a) is amended by adding at the end the
provides, is the responsible way to A of the CARES Act (2 U.S.C. 901a note) is
fully reopen all of our communities and following new paragraph:
amended by striking ‘‘March 31, 2021’’ and in- ‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR CERTAIN HOS-
Build Back Better. serting ‘‘December 31, 2021’’. PITALS WITH HIGH DISPROPORATIONATE
f (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment SHARE.—
made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a hospital
b 0915 enacted as part of the CARES Act (Public with high disproportionate share (as defined
Law 116–136). in subparagraph (B)) located in a State ref-
WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. erenced in subsection (e) of section 4721 of
(Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania (a) DISREGARD OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, a payment
asked and was given permission to ad- COMPENSATION FOR PURPOSES OF MEDICAID adjustment during a State fiscal year shall
dress the House for 1 minute and to re- AND CHIP.—Section 2104(h) of the CARES Act be considered consistent with subsection (c)
vise and extend his remarks.) (15 U.S.C. 9023(h)) is amended by striking if the payment adjustment does not exceed
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. ‘‘Federal pandemic unemployment com- 175 percent of the costs of furnishing hospital
Mr. Speaker, last week, I introduced pensation’’ and inserting ‘‘Federal Pandemic services during the year, but only if the Gov-
Unemployment Compensation or Mixed ernor of the State certifies to the satisfac-
the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act
Earner Unemployment Compensation’’. tion of the Secretary that the hospital’s ap-
with Mr. ANTONIO DELGADO. This bill (b) RURAL HEALTH CLINIC PAYMENTS.— plicable minimum amount is used for health
addresses the importance of providing (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(f)(3) of the services during the year. In determining the
whole milk in school cafeterias. Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(f)(3)) is amount that is used for such services during
It is proven that milk is the number amended— a year, there shall be excluded any amounts
one provider of nine essential nutri- (A) in subparagraph (A)— received under the Public Health Service
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ents, as well as a great deal of long- (i) in clause (i), by striking subclauses (I) Act, title V, title XVIII, or from third party
term health benefits, including better and (II) and inserting the following: payors (not including the State plan under
‘‘(I) with respect to a rural health clinic this title) that are used for providing such
bone health, lower blood pressure, re-
that had a per visit payment amount estab- services during the year.
duced risk of cardiovascular disease lished for services furnished in 2020— ‘‘(B) HOSPITAL WITH HIGH
and type 2 diabetes. These benefits are ‘‘(aa) the per visit payment amount appli- DISPROPORATIONATE SHARE DEFINED.—In sub-
crucial for the healthy development of cable to such rural health clinic for rural paragraph (A), a hospital is a ‘hospital with
our Nation’s youth. health clinic services furnished in 2020, in- high disproportionate share’ if—
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H1590 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 19, 2021
‘‘(i) the hospital is owned or operated by treated the same as the last reconcili- package that the Democrats passed in
the State (or by an instrumentality or a unit ation bill passed by Congress. That was the last week.
of government within the State); and in 2017, when Republicans used rec- In other words, just as President
‘‘(ii) the hospital— Biden has desperately tried to take
onciliation to pass the Tax Cuts and
‘‘(I) meets the requirement described in
Jobs Act. credit for the incredible, truly historic
subparagraphs (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1);
or Following the bill’s passage without work President Trump did to ensure
‘‘(II) has the largest number of inpatient Democratic support in either the House that we have vaccines going into the
days attributable to individuals entitled to or Senate, Republicans proposed this arms to save lives, he is trying to take
benefits under the State plan of any hospital same legislative fix, albeit buried in a credit for an economic recovery put in
in such State for the previous fiscal year. problematic continuing resolution. place by the policies signed into law by
‘‘(C) APPLICABLE MINIMUM AMOUNT DE- Enough House and Senate Democrats President Trump. Don’t listen to the
FINED.—In subparagraph (A), the ‘applicable words. Watch his actions.
joined Republicans to prevent harmful
minimum amount’ for a hospital for a fiscal In fact, it was under President
year is equal to the difference between the
across-the-board cuts to critical pro-
grams I mentioned, even though we op- Trump’s leadership that Operation
amount of the hospital’s payment adjust- Warp Speed delivered multiple vaccines
ment for the fiscal year and the costs to the posed the short-term CR and the mas-
hospital of furnishing hospital services de- sive tax giveaways to the wealthy. in record time with planning to get
scribed in paragraph (1)(A) during the fiscal This time the situation is flipped, but those shots in the arms of the Amer-
year.’’. the same nonetheless. House Repub- ican people. Meanwhile, the Biden ad-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill licans opposed the American Rescue ministration has spent an inordinate
shall be debatable for 1 hour, equally Plan. I don’t understand their position. amount of time running afoul of fact
divided and controlled by the chair and This bill is supported by more than 70 checkers with their shameless rhetoric
the ranking minority member of the percent of Americans and will directly meant to dismiss the incredible work
Committee on the Budget or their re- benefit far more. But that is the choice done by the previous administration.
Nevertheless, we are here today be-
spective designees. they made. Either way, a statutory
cause Democrats want to fix one of the
The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. legislative fix for paygo is now needed
many problems caused by President
YARMUTH) and the gentleman from and, historically, that has been enacted
Biden and the House Democrats in the
Missouri (Mr. SMITH) each will control with little dispute.
Even in the wake of contentious leg- $1.9 trillion bailout: Those cuts to
30 minutes.
Medicare. And they want to do so by
The Chair recognizes the gentleman islation, Congress has come together to
erasing almost $2 trillion in spending
from Kentucky. prevent sequestration and to protect
from the Nation’s books; pretending $2
GENERAL LEAVE Medicare, farm support programs, so-
trillion in spending is not going to hap-
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask cial services, resources for students
pen.
unanimous consent that all Members and individuals with disabilities, and
That, of course, serves two purposes
have 5 legislative days within which to other programs Americans rely on.
for our Democrat colleagues. First, it
revise and extend their remarks and in- This time should be no different. avoids the immediate cuts, which they
sert extraneous material into the Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
caused and they chose to happen. Sec-
RECORD on H.R. 1868. my time.
ond, it gives them a clean slate on
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker,
which they are reportedly already
objection to the request of the gen- I yield myself such time as I may con-
planning to add trillions more in
tleman from Kentucky? sume.
spending in the months to come.
There was no objection. Mr. Speaker, this week, the Presi-
Given all of this, I would ask my col-
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield dent has been traveling across the
leagues to move forward with a much
myself such time as I may consume. country telling Americans how appre- better approach, one that stops their
Mr. Speaker, because of the Amer- ciative they should be that Washington Medicare cuts and does so in a more re-
ican Rescue Plan, relief checks are al- Democrats are spending, or have spent, sponsible way. Let’s work together to
ready being deposited in Americans’ $1.9 trillion in borrowed dollars, money protect seniors and to cut waste from
bank accounts, furloughs have already they are using to bail out States run by their bailout bill that the American
ended for tens of thousands of workers, the President’s political buddies and to people clearly don’t want, such as stop-
and we have averted the unemploy- reward devastating lockdowns that ping billions in benefits and payments
ment cliff. But we have a loose end to have destroyed hundreds of thousands to prisoners and illegal immigrants—
tie up before our work is finished, and of small businesses and kept kids out billions in payments to prisoners and
that is the bill before us. of schools; billions on policies that will illegal immigrants; stopping funds they
Enacting COVID relief through budg- reduce private-sector employment in recklessly jammed into the bailout for
et reconciliation was always plan B, this country; billions on foreign aid. the National Endowment for the Arts
but the American people could not af- And out of all the money, less than 9 and the National Endowment for the
ford any more delays, and Congress percent goes towards healthcare spend- Humanities; stopping special handouts
needed a path forward for the Amer- ing to crush the virus and to put vac- to Federal employees; rescinding bil-
ican Rescue Plan and the trans- cinations in people’s arms. lions in bailouts that go to State gov-
formative support it provides. Because The massive debt-inducing spending ernments that do not need it, and re-
paygo requirements cannot be changed package also threatens billions in cuts ward their continued lockdowns.
in reconciliation bills, we knew from to seniors on Medicare, including $36 Mr. Speaker, put people before poli-
the outset that this additional legisla- billion starting next year. My guess is tics. Put people before politics. Put
tive fix was needed to avert painful and that the President is probably not seniors ahead of the Democrats’ special
indiscriminate cuts to Medicare, farm going to be bragging to seniors he interests and their political class. This
supports, and other programs. meets on the road that the bill he is the responsible way to address the
The language of H.R. 1868 should look signed into law is cutting billions of Medicare cuts caused by my Democrat
familiar. Over the past year, Congress dollars from their Medicare, just as I colleagues. It is a far better approach
has enacted multiple COVID relief am sure he won’t bother to mention than to simply pretend $1.9 trillion in
packages to address the crises facing that the economic recovery he wants spending is not happening. It is a far
the American people and our economy. to take credit for is already underway; more honest approach given the fact
Each time, we excluded these bills that the economy is steadily projected that the President is traveling the
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from statutory paygo calculations be- to reach the level of real GDP growth country bragging about the same near-
cause of the dire impact sequestration we saw prior to the pandemic by the ly $2 trillion in spending.
would have on our Nation’s seniors, middle of this year; that we are on Mr. Speaker, $1.9 trillion, such a big
students, farmers, and others. track this year, in fact, to have the number, is hard to put in proper per-
Today’s bill will ensure the American largest economic growth in more than spective. But this year, when the
Rescue Plan is treated the same as 15 years, all without one dime used American people pay their Federal in-
these previous relief measures and from the nearly $2 trillion bailout come taxes, every single penny—every
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March 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1591
single penny of their hard-earned tries to remove, as the others speakers and this bill allows the Democrats to
money the IRS collects will total less have said, the tough consequences of put the pedal to the metal without con-
than the cost of this $1.9 trillion bail- their continued reckless and irrespon- sequence, as we speed faster toward a
out to their friends, donors, and polit- sible spending. fiscal catastrophe. Rather than truly
ical allies. Last week, the Democrats passed helping the country, the bill enables
Let’s do the responsible thing: Pro- their massive $2 trillion blue State Democrats’ fiscal irresponsibility. Ac-
tect seniors by rolling back some of the bailout package with the intent to bur- tions like this are why Congress has
most wasteful and wrong policies em- den future generations of Americans such a low, abysmal approval rating.
bedded in the Democrat’s bailout bill. with yet another layer of crippling I will continue to tell my folks back
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of debt and inevitably higher taxes for home that I am fighting for them and
my time. years to come. their hard-earned tax dollars, while the
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield This was yet another effort to fur- other side wants to continue to steal
2 minutes to the gentleman from Vir- ther use the COVID virus as an oppor- those dollars to fund their future pet
ginia (Mr. SCOTT), the distinguished tunity to fund their leftist expansion of projects.
chairman of the Committee on Edu- government, climate extremism, woke Mr. Speaker, we find ourselves today
cation and Labor, and also a member of social justice, and radical progressive truly in March madness, and the Demo-
the Budget Committee. agenda. At $2 trillion, the Pelosi bail- crats are throwing up another air ball
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, out bill would spend another $6,000 per with this legislation. I urge a ‘‘no’’
I rise in support of H.R. 1868. American citizen. This $6,000 in debt, vote on this bill.
Since the start of the pandemic, Con- per citizen, with the chance for some to Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I would
gress has passed several emergency receive a $1,400 check, is a raw deal for like to remind the gentleman from Vir-
COVID–19 response packages to help Americans. Everybody gets an IOU for ginia that in 2017 when Republicans
our communities get back on their $6,000; some people get a $1,400 check in passed an almost identical amount of
feet. Unfortunately, as the chairman return. tax cuts, 83 percent of which went to
Only 9 percent of the $2 trillion is the top 1 percent and major corpora-
mentioned, due to technicalities in the
even related to COVID relief, with the tions, MITCH MCCONNELL said on the
reconciliation process, some of that
bulk of the spending going to fund Senate floor: Sequestration has never
progress will be wiped away unless we
these Democrat pet projects. There is happened, will not happen now, and
pass this legislation.
no pressure at all on the teachers’ will never happen. His words were pro-
So H.R. 1868 is necessary to prevent
unions to even reopen the schools in re- phetic because it is not going to hap-
the automatic, across-the-board fund-
turn for the additional $130 billion in pen today.
ing cuts that will undermine our recov- Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
ery. Just as the ranking member men- the bill, the Democrats rejected those
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. PAL-
tioned, that will happen unless we pass commonsense amendments to require
LONE), the distinguished chairman of
this bill. Many of those cuts will occur the schools to reopen. Only 5 percent of
the Energy and Commerce Committee.
within the jurisdiction of the Com- that $130 billion for schools will even Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want
mittee on Education and Labor. be spent this year in 2021, that is how to thank the chair of our Budget Com-
For example, the legislation before essential it is for COVID relief. mittee, the gentleman from Kentucky.
us protects student borrowers from Now Democrats are finally acknowl- He really makes the point so well.
automatic increases and loan origina- edging today that their spending is out Look, regardless of what our ranking
tion fees and would increase the cost of of control and unsustainable, but in- member says on the other side, Amer-
taking out a student loan. stead of seeking a true remedy for ica is not in great shape, the economy
The bill protects TEACH Grants, their problem, they are once again try- is not good, many people have lost
which help recruit talented individuals ing to kick the can down the road and their jobs, and the reason for the
into the classroom. exempt their spending from long- American Rescue Plan was exactly
The proposal preserves funding for standing paygo rules. that. We want to help people. We want
many of our colleges struggling to sur- This new legislation would prevent to make sure people get direct cash
vive during the pandemic. sequestration for mandatory spending, payments to help them. We want to
Passing this legislation will prevent which was only triggered in response to make sure the State and local govern-
cuts to grants that go to students the reckless spending bill they passed ments get help, because they don’t
whose parents made the ultimate sac- last week. Their ill-conceived bill want to be laying people off and not
rifice serving our Nation in Iraq and failed to cut funding for the unneces- provide services during the pandemic.
Afghanistan. sary projects prioritized by Democrats, We want to help small businesses.
Finally, this bill protects Americans’ but not by the American people. The contrast between what we, as
access to affordable healthcare during The imminent future sequester cuts Democrats, push in the American Res-
the global health emergency. this new bill is intended to address cue Plan to help people in this eco-
Mr. Speaker, Congress took bold ac- came about as a result of the blatantly nomic and health crisis is so vast com-
tion to get our country through the partisan and irresponsible bill the pared to what the Republicans did with
pandemic by enacting the American Democrats rammed through last week. their tax cut, which just helped the
Rescue Plan. Now we must take this Our national debt is now nearing $30 wealthiest and helped corporate inter-
final step in the reconciliation process trillion, an inconceivable number. It est. It is that simple.
to ensure that we do not undermine equates to about $90,000 per citizen. So I am just going to ask my col-
critical programs that students and This amounts to an economic crisis, a leagues on the other side to put par-
families urgently need. national security crisis, and we can’t tisanship aside and vote for this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to afford to ignore it any longer. A day of This legislation includes non-con-
support the legislation. reckoning is coming. troversial policies that will truly help
But the majority is ignoring it. Any all of our constituents. It provides crit-
b 0930 semblance of fiscal discipline would ical support for hospitals and rural
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, have resulted in a COVID bill that was health clinics and prevents cuts to
I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman maybe 10 to 20 percent of the $2 trillion Medicare and other important pro-
from Virginia (Mr. GOOD). that was in H.R. 1319, the Pelosi blue grams.
Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I State bailout. But instead, they unilat- In recent weeks, Republicans have
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thank the distinguished ranking mem- erally, on a hyperpartisan basis, claimed that any cuts to Medicare
ber from Missouri for yielding this rammed through the $2 trillion to sat- would be incredibly harmful. But the
time. isfy their left wing, and appease poorly only way to make sure that these cuts
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong run blue States and Democratic gov- don’t happen is passing this legislation
opposition to H.R. 1868, the Democrats’ ernors. today. In the past, we have always been
attempt to put a Band-Aid on their Our country cannot continue to af- able to come together to prevent these
out-of-control spending, and this bill ford to race toward fiscal insolvency, cuts.
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H1592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 19, 2021
When Republicans passed their $2 At least the Republican tax cuts in not going to let that happen—to pre-
trillion tax law for the wealthiest few, 2017 helped produce such a strong eco- vent sequestration, countless Federal
it triggered billions in mandatory cuts, nomic recovery that our revenues went programs that our constituents rely on
and Congress ultimately voted to pre- up. They didn’t go down. Now, that could be impacted.
vent those cuts with Democratic sup- should have reduced our deficit, but If we fail to pass H.R. 1868, cuts to
port. If Republicans truly want to pro- our failure to control spending instead programs at USDA could devastate
tect Medicare and other programs that drove that deficit still higher. In short, family farmers who are already reeling
support our farmers, our students, and it is the spending, stupid. after years of trade instability and stu-
the Nation’s defense, they simply No nation has ever spent, taxed, and pid trade wars. We must act because we
should vote for this bill today. borrowed its way to prosperity, but cannot allow cuts to Medicare, risking
Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my many have spent, taxed, and borrowed seniors’ access to care at a time when
colleagues that in addition to averting themselves into bankruptcy and ruin. they need it the most, in the midst of
statutory paygo cuts, this bill provides History warns us that nations that a deadly global pandemic.
additional relief specifically to front- bankrupt themselves aren’t around Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my col-
line healthcare providers through in- very long, because before you can pro- leagues to vote ‘‘yes’’ on this crucial
creased Medicare payments. This is a vide for the common defense and pro- legislation to ensure that the Federal
policy that Congress supported mul- mote the general welfare, you first Government can meet the needs of
tiple times. Please support this bill if have to be able to pay for them. Minnesotans and the American people
you care. Excessive debt saps the credit of a during a public health crisis. This body
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, nation that is its lifeline in times of that I joined just over 2 years ago; this
I yield myself such time as I may con- genuine peril. It consumes the future body has come together numerous
sume. prosperity of the nation as interest times to make sure that we do not
Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind costs swell. It saps the economic vital- allow sequestration to take cuts for
the gentleman from New Jersey that ity of our Nation by crowding out cap- worse ideas than helping the American
the folks in southeast Missouri, a fam- ital that would otherwise be available people through a public health crisis.
ily of four who makes less than $55,000 to consumers and home buyers and Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to
a year, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs businesses. It robs the currency of its please support this bill today.
Act had zero in tax liability because of value, pilfering the Nation’s savings Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker,
what the Republicans passed. and their pensions. It alienates capital I yield 3 minutes the gentleman from
I don’t think a family of four, who markets until interest rates rise and Ohio (Mr. WENSTRUP).
makes $55,000 or less, is considered the interest costs balloon into a debt spi- b 0945
wealthy. But apparently maybe some- ral. Once this starts, there is no way to
one from New Jersey might think stop it until the whole house of cards Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, the
someone who makes $55,000 for a family crashes down. pandemic was a problem that led some
of four is wealthy. It is surely not in Do you know want to know what healthcare providers to close their
southeast Missouri. that looks likes? It looks a lot like doors. In a bipartisan way, in the pre-
I also would like to point out that Venezuela. vious session of Congress, we made an
the gentleman from New Jersey did not In the spring of 1945, there was seri- effort to fix that problem.
help support in waiving this provision ous concern whether we could continue Now, because of the Democrats’ irre-
back in 2017. the war into 1946. Bond sales were fail- sponsible spending bill, healthcare pro-
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the ing miserably, war taxes, spending, viders who are struggling will see de-
gentleman from California (Mr. borrowing, and inflation had hollowed creased payments, which is the last
MCCLINTOCK). out our economy, and the Nation’s thing they need right now, and it is the
Mr. MCCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, this credit was nearing exhaustion. Now last thing we need right now.
bill is just the first taste of a bitter consider this: we are carrying a larger Medicare reimbursement rates are al-
brew concocted by those who pushed percentage of debt today than we were ready low, only balanced out by non-
through $1.9 trillion of pure deficit at the very end of World War II, and I Medicare payments. The better way is
spending last week. fear how we could respond to a similar to target the funding to those who need
Now, this measure involves our sustained national threat today. it and are still working to come out of
paygo rules. You remember paygo. The When a colleague told the great econ- the pandemic. We can fill the gaps
current version dates to 2010. In those omist, Adam Smith, that a British de- without adding to the deficit.
days everyone was worried about a $1.3 feat would be the ruin of the nation, Wasn’t the idea of a rescue to im-
trillion deficit and $13 trillion of na- Smith calmly observed: ‘‘Be assured, prove access to care? Yet, 9 percent of
tional debt. Isn’t that adorable? my young friend, that there is a great the $1.9 trillion really went to address
Paygo requires across-the-board deal of ruin in a nation.’’ the COVID crisis.
spending cuts to offset any bill that But as I look at the unprecedented They bailed out failed pension funds
spends money we don’t have. And we and unsustainable debt that these poli- without reform and ignored our doctors
just spent a lot of money we don’t cies are producing, I can’t avoid a sense and healthcare providers on the front
have. As paygo works, the first install- of foreboding that our Nation is fast lines of the pandemic. They cut pay-
ment payment for this Biden binge is running out of ruin, and that a terrible ments to caregivers. $1.9 trillion, yet
$345 billion of spending cuts every year day of reckoning is coming. cuts to healthcare providers during a
for the next 5 years, and that includes Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield pandemic.
$52 billion in paygo and BCA cuts to 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from What Democrats are trying to do
Medicare, which is expected to go Minnesota (Ms. CRAIG), a distinguished today is ignore the negative con-
broke in 2024 as it is. Now, that is just member of the Energy and Commerce sequences of the bill they passed ear-
to pay for the party the Democrats had Committee. lier this month. The consequences of
the other day. So it is time to pay for Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, last week the bill passed 2 weeks ago means there
it. we passed the American Rescue Plan to will be payment cuts to providers.
How do you deal with a bill like that? help our Nation get through a COVID– $1.9 trillion? Someone should be
Well, it is pretty simple: Just forget 19 public health and economic crisis. helped in this measure, but we can do
about it. Just wipe it off the books and This historic legislation is already better. We can do better, but we
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start planning the next trillion-dollar helping millions of Americans and hun- weren’t talked to for our ideas.
spending spree. In fairness, that is how dreds of thousands of Minnesotans. Mr. Speaker, Members should ask
both parties have addressed paygo When I think about this piece of leg- themselves: What about all of this
since we passed it. And the net result is islation, it is widely, on a bipartisan today? Will the next several genera-
the deficit has nearly tripled and the basis, supported in a swing district like tions of Americans look to us and say
debt has more than doubled in less mine back in Minnesota. But if Con- thank you as they get stuck with pay-
than a decade. gress fails to take action—and we are ing our bills?
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March 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1593
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield tisan package last week. There were If we don’t pass this bill today, $29
2 minutes to the gentleman from Geor- many reasons to oppose it, but one of billion in agricultural funding would be
gia (Mr. DAVID SCOTT), who is the dis- the most significant reasons was the subject to these sequester cuts. Those
tinguished chairman of the Agriculture fact that the bill would trigger cuts to types of cuts would zero out funding
Committee. Medicare and other essential programs. for such crucial agricultural programs
Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. We argued that it would harm all of like EQIP, the Conservation Steward-
Speaker, I thank the chairman for our constituents. I argued that it ship Program, and the Regional Con-
yielding. would harm my constituents in Geor- servation Partnership Program.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important gia to my friend, my fellow delegation In my district on the mid-central
and urgent activity that we are on this member. This bill penalized the State coast of California, many farmers,
morning. Now, my Republican friends of Georgia more than any State in the ranchers, and forest landowners rely on
talked about this, but they did the United States. More than any State in those types of helpful programs not
identical, same thing in 2017 with the Nation, Georgia was punished. We just to survive, Mr. Speaker, but to
President Trump’s tax cuts. What is lost $1.3 billion because of the funding succeed. They use those programs to
good for my friends is also good for us. formula. We didn’t shut down our harvest their products and to be part of
That is the way the rules are. State, and we didn’t destroy our econ- the climate solution.
Mr. Speaker, let me tell you how dev- omy, and the funding was based on the The producers in my district under-
astating the damage would be if we do unemployment rate and not popu- stand and appreciate the old adage
not act. First of all, it will cut $29 bil- lation. called usufruct, which basically says
lion from badly needed programs, and Where did that $1.3 billion go? It the land they use now must be kept
no entity will be impacted and dev- went to blue States. It went to Cali- fresh and fertile, not just for them, but
astated like agriculture. They will cut fornia, and it went to New York. Geor- for future generations. It is these pro-
$29 billion and cut our programs for en- gian taxpayers’ money went to other grams that contribute to their current
ergy efficiency and rural development. States; it went to blue States. product and, yes, that type of forward
We are working on that together. What did it do to Medicare in the thinking.
This bill will save our rural develop- State of Georgia? We lost $11.5 billion Sequester cuts would also prevent
ment, research, specialty crop develop- that would have gone to the seniors on the Federal Government from pur-
ment, and beginning and veteran farm- Medicare in the State of Georgia. chasing and donating food to food
er development. Where did it go? Again, it went to banks through section 32 purchases.
Out of the $29 billion, it will take $23 California, and it went to New York. It After the year we had, in which food
billion out of our Commodity Credit went to the blue States. It went to the banks contributed so much to the food
Corporation, limiting our ability to States that shut down their businesses security of so many of my constitu-
make payments to our farmers and and destroyed their economies. Yet, ents, we should be doing everything we
food producers at this critical time the bill was pushed forward anyway. can to protect and bolster our food pro-
when we are in a hunger crisis. This could have all been avoided al- grams.
Mr. Speaker, you must understand, together. We could have crafted a bi- We should also be doing everything
we Democrats and Republicans need to partisan package that would not have we can to protect the production of
send a powerful message to the Nation triggered these Medicare cuts. Instead, food, but sequestration cuts would
on this bill. those across the aisle resorted to forc- compromise many parts of the farm
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ing a bill through reconciliation. In the bill, like the specialty crop block
time of the gentleman has expired. end, they passed a package filled with grants or the agricultural research ex-
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield political favors on the back of our sen- tension programs at public univer-
the gentleman from Georgia an addi- iors. sities.
tional 30 seconds. Again, this could have been avoided. As the co-chair of the Congressional
Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. But today, we need to fix this for our Agriculture Research Caucus, I know
Speaker, let us move hand in hand to- constituents who are recognizing we that these types of ag research pro-
gether at this serious time. have a spending problem. grams help our farmers meet the chal-
Now, when my friends used this, it Now that the largest stimulus bill in lenges of 2021 and will allow them to
was for the tax cut, most of which went our history has been signed into law, prepare for challenges of the 21st cen-
to the wealthy. But this $23 billion cut our deficit for the year will also break tury.
to our CCC will devastate the Amer- records. We are now projected to have Mr. Speaker, as the Representative
ican people where it hurts the most: a Federal deficit of $3.4 trillion, and from the salad bowl of the world, it is
their food, their water, their shelter, debt as a share of our GDP will be at my job to ensure that my farmers,
and their clothing. We must not do 100 percent for only the second time in farmworkers, and food-insecure fami-
that. our country’s history. lies have all the tools that they need to
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to My colleagues have shown little re- live and lead healthy and productive
join us. gard for actually paying for this reck- lives.
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, less spending for political favor. That The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
I would like to remind the body that is why I urge my colleagues to find a time of the gentleman has expired.
the reason we are here today is because way to pay for restoring the cuts to Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield
of the reckless behavior. All of these Medicare. The first place I suggest an additional 30 seconds to the gen-
cuts on Medicare are because House looking for it is in the over 90 percent tleman from California.
Democrats forced through a nearly $2 of the last package that will not go to Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, as Rep-
trillion spending bill. The reason we addressing the pandemic. resentatives in Congress for this Na-
have the paygo statutory provision is Mr. Speaker, this is wrong, and my tion, it is all of our jobs to ensure that
because President Obama signed it into colleagues know it is wrong. Let’s get the programs for those tools and that
law and House Democrats passed it. So this fixed. food are here not just for today but to-
the cuts are the result today of all the Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield morrow. We can live up to that respon-
policies that Democrats have been 2 minutes to the gentleman from Cali- sibility by supporting H.R. 1868.
doing since 2010. fornia (Mr. PANETTA), who is a distin- Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the guished member of the Ways and I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
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gentleman from Georgia (Mr. CARTER). Means Committee. from Mississippi (Mr. KELLY), who is
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speak- Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, today, I the newest member of the Budget Com-
er, today, we are addressing a problem rise in support of H.R. 1868 to prevent mittee.
that didn’t even exist a week ago. It these harmful budget cuts to vital agri- Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr.
did not even exist last week. cultural programs that are relied on by Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R.
The Republicans stood on this floor farmers, farmworkers, and food-inse- 1868, the bill to prevent across-the-
and argued against the $1.9 trillion par- cure families in all of our districts. board direct spending cuts.
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H1594 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 19, 2021
It should come as no surprise to my had a chance to listen to the debate part of the majority party to work
Democrat friends. They were told dur- and evaluate for themselves what they with Republicans on what should be a
ing what little process we had in the think of the American Rescue Plan. A bipartisan priority, and that is pro-
$1.9 trillion spending bill that it was Morning Consult poll that came out vider relief.
going to disproportionately hurt sen- yesterday showed 72 percent support I have heard from physicians and I
iors and that it was going to hurt farm- for the plan, 44 percent among Repub- have heard from hospitals in Texas
ers. licans across the country. that struggled financially throughout
My friends were told this, and they Why not? Ninety million Americans the pandemic. But the bill we have be-
ignored that, knowing they would have on Wednesday received $1,400 checks fore us today is simply an excuse to
to fix it later and drive something just totaling $242 billion. For those Ameri- wipe out the scorecard of the fiscal im-
as irresponsible through now. cans who are not connected digitally to pact of this $1.9 trillion partisan pack-
A disproportionate share of this $2 the IRS, they are going to get their age passed last week.
trillion goes to urban, poorly run, checks through the mail. Last week, Republicans warned that
Democrat cities and States at the ex- this would threaten cuts to Medicare,
b 1000 but those warnings were repeatedly ig-
pense of our rural, blue-collar Ameri-
cans who feed, clothe, and protect For those Americans who are filing nored. If the House majority really
America every day. We told my friends their 2020 tax returns, whose income cared, if the House Democrats really
this weeks ago, and they ignored it. now qualifies them for the economic cared about meaningful healthcare pro-
I am deeply concerned that the impact payments, they are going to re- vider relief, they would have worked to
Democrats would enact a bill that adds ceive their checks. gain Republican support, worked with
$1.9 trillion to an American deficit On Monday, people who were on un- us to build a bill from the ground up.
without the support of a single Repub- employment got an extension because Instead, this bill is coming toward us
lican. Over 200 voting Members of this of the American Rescue Plan. These as a Hail Mary pass right before the
body had no opportunity for input into are working people in the service sec- Medicare sequester cuts go into effect
this massively destructive package. tors, in the commercial real estate sec- in April.
The Biden administration promised tor, in most parts of the economy that As a physician, I have deep empathy
the American people bipartisanship are still hurting out there. for those whose medical practices have
and unity. However, they unilaterally Every ‘‘no’’ vote was a ‘‘no’’ vote in been impacted and are now struggling
drafted and pushed this bill through terms of people getting that critical to stay open. I know I have helped
without any Republican support. economic help. many doctors, many clinics, navigate
Now, the Democrats have hastily put Another vote of confidence happened the Provider Relief Fund over this past
together a bill that jeopardizes the on Wednesday, which is, the Federal year. We need targeted relief for the
standing of our seniors and mortgages Reserve Board met and voted to keep providers who are hurting, and some
the future of our children. their key benchmark rate at zero, not are hurting more than others.
My colleague, Ranking Member just for a couple of weeks or a couple of I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1999, which
SMITH, reminded the Democrats of the months, but for the balance of 2021, for is an alternative approach that adds
all of 2022, and into 2023. over $12 billion to the Provider Relief
consequences of such a dramatic in-
So for all of the historical arguments Fund and ensures that dollars would
crease in mandatory spending: a $36
that we are overheating the economy flow to those doctors who have experi-
billion cut to Medicare beginning in
and inflation is going to go up, Jerome enced lost revenue or increased cost.
2022. Democrats would rather cut bene- This type of financial relief has al-
fits to American seniors in rural Amer- Powell, Donald Trump’s nominee as
ready been proven successful. We
ica than give up checks to illegal im- chair of the Federal Reserve, took
passed the CARES Act on March 27 of
migrants and prisoners. questions for over an hour on this in-
last year. We know it’s successful.
The Democrats have taken advantage flation issue, argued, accurately, with Additionally, this alternative bill en-
of the need of the American people. My a battalion of economists that they sures that the 4 percent cut to Medi-
colleagues are advocating for a more have at the Federal Reserve that there care providers that was included in last
responsible alternative that would re- is still slack in this economy and 10 week’s reconciliation bill as a result of
move the wasteful spending of the million folks on unemployment need to statutory paygo does not go into effect
Biden bailout bill and protect the most get this type of fiscal relief that the in 2022.
vulnerable population. We must cut the American Rescue Plan responsibly tar- The American Rescue Plan Act gifted
billions of liberal State bailouts and be geted, which is going to make sure that $350 billion to State and local govern-
sure money already authorized is spent this country recovers as soon as pos- ments that simply was not justified.
responsibly. sible. Providers in our State and local com-
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I want This is a routine bill today. We have munities are worthy of funding and
to remind the gentleman from Mis- done it over and over again in the last they should specifically benefit from
sissippi, along with all the other Mem- 10 years. Vote ‘‘yes’’ and make sure those State and local dollars that are
bers of this body, that his citizens will that this economy, as the Chairman of not necessary to go where they are
receive, in total, $900 million from just the Federal Reserve advised us, gets planned to go. That is why we would
the $1,400 checks. That is the average the help it needs. like to redirect the State and local
that every congressional district is Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, funding toward provider relief.
going to receive, and I hope that at I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman Maintaining a strong healthcare
some point they will realize the bene- from Texas (Mr. BURGESS), one of the workforce is critical to the health of
fits of that injection of capital into an leading doctors of the Republican Con- this Nation during normal times, and
economy that is struggling. ference and a great member of the it is especially critical during a public
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the Budget Committee. health emergency.
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank We should work together on the right
COURTNEY), who is a distinguished the gentleman for yielding. policy solution to deliver this relief to
member of the Education and Labor Mr. Speaker, I am going to speak in ensure that it stands a chance of actu-
Committee. opposition to H.R. 1868, but I also feel ally passing in the other body, and that
Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I obligated to point out that you may should be a starting point for those dis-
thank the chairman of the Budget say that the inflation rate is zero, but cussions.
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Committee for his and his committee if you bought a gallon of gas, pur- Mr. Speaker, I hope we can come to
staff’s steady hand over the last couple chased a two-by-four at Home Depot, such a sensible solution.
of months to make sure that the Amer- or bought a sack of Quikrete at Lowe’s, Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I am
ican Rescue Plan was enacted last you would know that inflation is a real happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentle-
week. phenomenon. woman from Illinois (Ms. SCHA-
Mr. Speaker, in that week’s time up But I do rise in opposition to H.R. KOWSKY), a distinguished member of
to today, the American people have 1868. There was no effort made on the the Budget Committee.
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March 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1595
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I tricity turned off. The IRS will hunt woman from Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE),
am proud to cosponsor H.R. 1868 to pre- them down and put them in jail if they a distinguished member of the Budget
vent arbitrary cuts to Medicare and to don’t pay their taxes. They will have Committee.
ensure that the American Rescue Plan their mortgage foreclosed, their cars Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I
is treated in the same way as previous repossessed. That is what happens to thank our distinguished chairman for
coronavirus bills have been treated, in- the American people when they don’t yielding.
cluding the CARES Act. pay their bills. Mr. Speaker, whenever you hear the
This legislation, as we all know, this President Obama, when he signed the words of Speaker PELOSI, you know
fix is needed to avoid painful cuts to law, said, You can’t spend a dollar un- that the gentlewoman is leading us on
our mandatory spending programs. And less you cut a dollar elsewhere. I agree the fight to protect our seniors. I am
let’s remember—the hypocrisy is over- with him. glad to cosponsor this legislation to be
whelming here—that the Democrats Ms. PELOSI, our Speaker, gave a a strong supporter of being on the front
voted with Republicans in 2017 to avoid speech and she gave glowing points as seat of protecting our seniors.
Medicare cuts as a result of the Repub- she embraced wholeheartedly and full- Whenever you hear us being
lican’s tax scam, a $2 trillion tax cut, throatedly this paygo. She said it is demagogued from those on the other
that went mostly to the wealthy. important ‘‘ . . . to our fiscal sound- side using demagoguery, you can be as-
Our healthcare workers have been ness, and to our children and grand- sured that when they pass a tax bill, it
working nonstop for over a year fight- children.’’ was not having seniors as their pri-
ing this pandemic. They do not deserve She said: ‘‘ . . . who could oppose this ority. But when you hear the word
a cut in Medicare payments for taking great idea?’’ ‘‘Medicare,’’ you know that Democrats
care of seniors and people with disabil- She went on to say: ‘‘ . . . invest- are standing strong to make sure that
ities. ments in our children’s future . . . not one dime is taken away from our
By removing the sequester, we can must be paid for, or else we are heaping seniors with Medicare.
ensure that providers keep their doors debt onto our children.’’ My open letter to my seniors in my
open and they can continue to treat The national debt is almost $30 tril- district—open message to my seniors
their patients. lion and counting. is: We will die on the vine to protect
Though Republicans voted against Who is going to pay for that? your Medicare. That is what we are
the American Rescue Plan, which they Not us. Not you. Our kids are going doing today on the floor of the House.
shouldn’t have, I sincerely hope that to pay for it. Not one dime will come out of your
today they will join us and vote to pro- These are Ms. PELOSI’s words, Mr. Medicare.
tect these programs that enjoy broad Speaker: ‘‘This pay-as-you-go is part of Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support
bipartisan public support and ensure a blueprint for fiscal responsibility. H.R. 1868, which excludes the budgetary
that our commitment to our Nation’s . . . ’’ effects of the American Rescue Plan of
seniors and people with disabilities are She said: ‘‘ . . . subjecting spending 2021 from scorecards established by the
met during this public health crisis. to the harshest scrutiny. Every Federal Pay-As-You-Go, or PAYGO Act of 2010,
Especially now, we need to be work- dollar that is spent must be subjected preventing across-the-board cuts to nu-
ing together, as we did for the Repub- to scrutiny to make sure taxpayers get merous direct-spending programs. That
licans. When the Republicans were giv- his or her money’s worth.’’ is what we are doing here today. We
ing tax cuts to the wealthiest Ameri- Bailing out union pensions, giving are taking our seniors seriously.
cans, we were not going to let Medicare cities and States money that horribly I say to seniors: Have no fear with all
suffer. mismanaged their business prior to of this demagoguery because we are
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, COVID, giving people more money to going to make sure that not one dime
I would like to remind the gentle- be on unemployment than they made comes out of your pocket.
woman from Illinois that actions speak in their previous jobs, paying people In addition, I say to seniors: You are
louder than words, and that the Demo- who are not economically harmed in going to be living in cities like Hous-
crats did not help the folks in 2017, this COVID disaster, all of these things ton, where it says that Houston’s share
since the gentlewoman tried to point are wasteful. There is a litany of of the stimulus package is $615 million.
out the hypocrisy. wasteful, irresponsible, and unneces- That is going to help keep the city
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the sary spending, hundreds of billions of services going, the fire, the police, and
gentleman from Texas (Mr. dollars. trash pickup going. We know that sen-
ARRINGTON). And the Speaker is saying every dol- iors call my office and these issues are
Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I lar is going to be scrutinized. We are important to them.
thank the gentleman for yielding. going to stick it to our seniors. We are Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD
Mr. Speaker, to the gentlewoman’s going to stick it to our kids. That is a a Houston Chronicle article dated
point about working together, Demo- profile in courage, if I ever saw one. March 10, 2021, showing that the city of
crats did not offer a hand of bipartisan- Now, that is the leadership that made Houston will receive $615 million.
ship in this ram-and-jam job on the $2 this country great, Mr. Speaker. These [From the Houston Chronicle, Mar. 10, 2021]
trillion bailout bill. They even lost are Ms. PELOSI’s words, not mine, but I HOUSTON’S SHARE OF STIMULUS BILL EX-
Democrats on it. So they didn’t work agree with her. PECTED TO TOP $600M, HELP AVOID CUTS TO
with us. We have an opportunity here to do CITY SERVICES, OFFICIALS SAY
It was a pure partisan play, and there the right thing by our children, to off- (By Jasper Scherer)
is a reason for that. It is mostly unre- set the spending here in this $2 trillion Houston and Harris County are expected to
lated to COVID. It is bailout galore. It bailout with the wasteful spending that receive more than $1.5 billion through the
is a wish list of the liberals in this is in there. And I gave you a list, Mr. stimulus bill approved by Congress Wednes-
House, and they just pushed it through Speaker. day, providing a massive cash injection that
city officials say will help close a budget
and called it, in disguise, COVID relief. Mr. Speaker, I plead with you and I
shortfall widened by the pandemic for the
But the fundamental principle we are plead with my colleagues to offset this second year in a row.
talking about today is paygo. This is a and do right by our kids and their fu- The measure provides local governments
law passed by Democrats, signed by a ture in this country. with their most generous round of COVID-re-
Democrat President. It says, fun- Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, may I lated funding yet, and it comes with fewer
damentally—and the American people inquire as to how much time remains spending restrictions than last year’s aid.
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understand this—if you spend beyond on both sides? Houston will receive an estimated $615 mil-
your means, you have got to find a way The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- lion, putting the city at more than $1 billion
in direct federal relief during the pandemic,
to pay for it. You have got to offset it tleman from Kentucky has 111⁄2 min-
while Harris County is projected to receive
or you go into debt. utes remaining. The gentleman from $914 million—more than double its allotment
Mr. Speaker, the American people, if Missouri has 11⁄4 minutes remaining. from the first round of local aid last March.
they don’t pay their bills, they get Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I am ‘‘I’m hopeful and optimistic that we will be
their water turned off or their elec- happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentle- able to use this money to, essentially, bail
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H1596 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 19, 2021
the city out of a very dire financial situa- next fiscal year, along with any potential has experience the worst of the COVID–19 as
tion,’’ said City Controller Chris Brown, who shortfall before the current fiscal year ends a public health emergency and economic ca-
monitors the spending of Houston’s more June 30. Odum said the city finance depart- tastrophe, I rise in strong support of H.R.
than $5 billion city budget. ment is projecting a budget gap of between
Many local governments, including Hous-
1868, which excludes the budgetary effects of
$160 and $200 million next year, while
ton, have seen their sales tax revenues plum- Brown—whose office generates its own esti- the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, from
met as the pandemic slowed consumer spend- mates separate from Turner’s administra- the scorecards established by the Statutory
ing on dining, tourism and other leisure ac- tion—said he expects the shortfall to be even Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act of 2010, pre-
tivity. And while rising appraisal values higher. venting across-the-board cuts to numerous di-
mean the city is projected to take in more Brown noted that while finance depart- rect spending programs.
money from property taxes this year than ment projections assume the city will see a The legislation also excludes the budgetary
last, officials say the pandemic’s true toll on less-than-1 percent reduction in sales tax effects of this Act from the Senate PAYGO
property tax revenue may not be felt until revenue this year, the actual decrease has scorecards.
early 2022, when homeowners make pay- been 7 percent. This legislation is necessary to ensure that
ments for this year’s not-yet-certified tax ‘‘The (Turner) administration, I don’t
that Medicare and other programs are pro-
rolls. think, has properly evaluated the reductions
Much to the relief of local officials, the in sales and property tax,’’ Brown said. tected from PAYGO sequestration.
latest round of federal aid allows cities and ‘‘There’s a $40 million variance between us The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act requires
counties to spend the funds to replace rev- and (the) finance (department) in sales tax across-the-board cuts, known as ‘‘sequestra-
enue lost due to the pandemic. Trump ad- alone.’’ tion,’’ to a defined set of programs if certain
ministration rules barred local governments Brown estimated city officials will have to legislation affecting mandatory spending or
from using the first round of local COVID re- lay off about a dozen city employees for revenues increases net deficits.
lief to plug budget holes, stipulating it could every $1 million trimmed from the budget, Although legislation that Congress des-
only cover expenses tied directly to the pan- meaning Houston could have been looking at ignates as an emergency or otherwise ex-
demic, though Mayor Sylvester Turner’s ad- more than 2,000 layoffs without any federal cludes from the PAYGO scorecard does not
ministration still was able to use the funds aid.
to avoid furloughing city employees.
trigger sequestration, this action is necessary
Instead, Houston’s relief will far exceed its
Marvin Odum, the former Shell executive budget deficit. The city also is expected to because restrictions on the content of rec-
appointed by the mayor to oversee the city’s devote a chunk of the aid to direct COVID onciliation bills prevented the American Res-
COVID recovery, said Wednesday he is ‘‘very relief, such as testing and vaccinations. cue Plan Act of 2021 from including a provi-
optimistic the funds will be able to be used Turner’s administration exhausted the pre- sion to avert sequestration.
to mitigate the city’s budget shortfalls re- vious round of aid, totaling $405 million, in The bill before also extends a separate
sulting from COVID–19.’’ Still, he noted that December. Those funds covered contact trac- Medicare sequester relief provision, first en-
beyond the broad language in the bill, fed- ing efforts, city workers whose jobs were acted in the CARES Act, that expires March
eral officials have yet to release specific consumed by COVID, and relief to renters 31,
rules for how local governments can spend and small businesses, among other areas. Mr. Speaker, Congress has never permitted
the funds. Turner, who proposes the annual budget to
‘‘I’ll just caution that clarity on the guide- sequestration to affect the Medicare trust fund
city council each year, did not respond to
lines for these programs tends to come over questions Wednesday about how he intends
and it certainly will not allow it now, just when
time. It’s not always available imme- to spend the new round of relief aid. help is arriving under the American Rescue
diately,’’ Odum said. Plan Act to put shots in arms, money in pock-
Republican lawmakers bitterly opposed Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let
ets, kids in school, and workers back on the
the local aid, including Senate Minority me also indicate that seniors’
job.
Leader Mitch McConnell, who accused Demo- healthcare will be in a good place with It is worthwhile to explain why the American
crats of sending ‘‘wheelbarrows of cash to this particular program. Their grand- Rescue Plan Act is the most transformative
state and local bureaucrats to bail out mis- children will be able to go back to legislation in more than a half century and
management from before the pandemic.’’ school with almost $1 billion to the
Meanwhile, local officials across the country easily justifies exclusion from sequestration.
Houston Independent School District. H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act,
have warned they would have to enact deep
Seniors’ stimulus checks are not is a landmark, life-saving legislation that will
cuts to city services, such as fire, police and
trash collection, without federal aid to offset going to be ignored. They are going to provide urgently-needed resources to defeat
their revenue losses. be able to get stimulus checks directly the virus, put vaccines in people’s arms,
‘‘Every mayor, every county judge, every into their accounts. Their grand- money into families’ pockets, children safely
local official that I visited with since before children, their children will get $3,600 back into classrooms, and people back to
December, they all need help,’’ said U.S. Rep. for a 5-year-old. work.
Sylvia Garcia, D–Houston, a former Houston The SPEAKER pro tempore. The With tens of millions of Americans infected,
controller and county commissioner. ‘‘Every time of the gentlewoman has expired.
city in America will get dollars to help with more than half a million lives lost, over 18 mil-
their revenue shortfalls. And that’s huge, be-
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield lion Americans unemployed and millions more
cause they can keep the firefighters working, an additional 30 seconds to the gentle- hungry and food and housing insecure, thanks
they can keep police departments open, they woman from Texas. to the work of congressional Democrats in the
can get the garbage picked up.’’ Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I House and Senate and the Biden Administra-
Even before the pandemic, Houston offi- thank the gentleman for yielding. tion, at long last the people of the United
cials in recent years have scrambled to close Mr. Speaker, they will get $3,000 for States and my home state of Texas can be
major city budget gaps, often dipping into children above 9 years old. There will
reserves to balance spending and revenue. assured that ‘Help Is On The Way.’
be enhanced unemployment for the In simple terms this life-saving and life-en-
The city’s public safety costs, which make
up more than half of spending on core serv-
young people in their lives who have hancing legislation puts vaccines in arms, puts
ices, have steadily increased as the budget been unemployed. And then, of course, money in people’s pockets, puts children safe-
remains capped by a limit on how much that local restaurant will be able—and ly back in school, and it will put workers back
property tax revenue the city can take in I fought for this—to be open again with in jobs.
each year. $28 billion. 1. Put Vaccines in Arms: The plan will
‘‘It’s going to solve, in the short term, The issue of public assistance or local mount a national vaccination program that in-
some of these problems, but the real chal- government assistance was something I cludes setting up community vaccination sites
lenge is, you cannot solve a structural prob-
was allowed to offer a motion to in- nationwide and addressing disparities facing
lem with one-time financing sources,’’ Brown
said. ‘‘You actually have to do the hard work struct on. It was something that I communities of color. It will also take com-
to cut recurring expenses. And that’s the thought we could not abandon. We will plementary measures to combat the virus, in-
only way you can narrow that budget gap not abandon seniors. We will not let cluding scaling up testing and tracing, ad-
over time.’’ them touch one dime of Medicare, as dressing shortages of personal protective
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Local governments will receive half their our friends on the other side have. equipment and other critical supplies, investing
federal aid within 60 days of Friday, when Vote for this legislation because we in high-quality treatments, and addressing
President Joe Eiden will sign the bill into are seniors first.
law, according to White House press sec-
health care disparities.
retary Jen Psaki. They will receive the sec-
Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the 2. Put Money in People’s Pockets: The plan
ond half of the funds at least a year later. Committees on the Judiciary, on Homeland finishes the job on the President’s promise to
That means Houston will receive more Security, on the Budget, and as the Member provide $2,000 in direct assistance to house-
than $300 million to offset its revenue losses of Congress for a congressional district that holds across America with checks of $1,400
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March 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1597
per person, following the $600 down payment July through December; the rest will come as Medicare now have access to a family
enacted in December. The plan will also pro- a check with next year’s taxes. physician and hospital care when they
vide direct housing assistance, nutrition assist- Enhanced unemployment: If the parent be- need it.
ance for 40 million Americans, expand access comes unemployed in March, she will be eligi- Former Republican Speaker Newt
to safe and reliable child care and affordable ble for $300 in aid every week through the last Gingrich, in this very room, plotted to
health care, extend unemployment insurance week of August. let Medicare wither on the vine. Mil-
so that 18 million American workers can pay Total: $10,800 from stimulus and tax credits, lions of Americans would have with-
their bills and support 27 million children with plus another $7,500 from 25–weeks of en- ered had he been successful. Yet, gen-
an expanded Child Tax Credit and more than hanced unemployment aid. This individual erations of Republicans have sought to
17 million low-wage workers through an im- would also receive $318 per week in state un- privatize it, cut it, or weaken it. Sure-
proved Earned Income Tax Credit. employment aid and thousands more from the ly, some of the strongest evidence of
3. Put Children Safely Back in School: The Earned Income Tax Credit. the success of Medicare, through all of
plan delivers $170 billion for education and RESTAURANTS these times, is the claim by today’s Re-
$45 billion for childcare providers. This in- Finally, let me discuss briefly the good publicans that after so many failed at-
cludes a $130 billion investment in K–12 things for the restaurant industry that are in tempts to weaken Medicare, they are
school re-opening and making up for lost time the American Rescue Plan Act. here, quite amazingly, claiming to be
in the classroom, with funds that can be used The law allocates $28 billion in funds to its new protectors.
for such things as reducing class sizes, modi- devastated food service establishments, in- Of course, this comes following their
fying spaces so that students and teachers understandable desperation to justify
cluding bars, and food trucks, and vendors.
can socially distance, improving ventilation, Unlike the Paycheck Protection Program, their inexplicable efforts to deny the
implementing more mitigation measures, pro- relief that was offered by the American
which saddled restaurants with burdensome
viding personal protective equipment and pro- Rescue Plan: the survivor benefits; the
loans if the bulk of the funds were not spent
viding summer school or other support for stu- unemployment; the small business and
on payroll, these restaurant relief dollars are
dents that help make up lost learning time this rental assistance so vitally needed; the
grants, plain and simple.
year. The plan also provides more than $40 support for getting our students back
Grant sizes will generally be determined by
billion for higher education. in school, the funding to keep State
subtracting lower 2020 pandemic-era receipts
Here is what the American Rescue Plan Act and local employees doing their jobs.
from higher 2019 gross receipts.
means for the State of Texas, Houston, and Republicans have resisted that rescue
Over $5 billion will be set aside for smaller
Harris County. plan with the same fervor that they re-
venues whose annual gross receipts were
An estimated $16.7 billion will come to the sisted Medicare in the first place. So
below $500,000, leaving $23.6 billion for ev-
State of Texas. determined are these folks to oppose
eryone else.
The lion’s share of $3.3 billion will come di- anything that President Biden ad-
Grants will be capped at $10 million for res-
rectly to the City of Houston, and Harris Coun- vances, they have come out here and
taurant groups and $5 million for individual
ty will receive a similar share of $5.667 billion, claimed that the rescue plan means
venues.
thanks to a provision in the law I helped se- Medicare cuts, which certainly it does
Publicly traded companies or restaurants
cure that created the Coronavirus Local Fiscal not.
with more than 20 locations will not be eligible Most of Medicare falls within the ju-
Recovery Fund and appropriated $45.57 bil- to participate in this funding. risdiction of the Ways and Means
lion. And, for the first 21 days, establishments Health Subcommittee, which I chair.
$1.4 billion in direct payments is allocated to owned by women, veterans, or economically We do need to strengthen Medicare.
smaller jurisdiction like Jacinto City. and socially disadvantaged groups will be The latest financial report suggests
Houston Independent School District can prioritized. that additional revenues will be needed
expect to receive close to $100 million This transformative legislation will also pro- to sustain Medicare beginning in 2026.
($993,198 million to be more precise). vide direct housing assistance, nutrition assist- Some of the changes that are needed
The law specifically allows this funding to be ance for 40 million Americans, expand access are largely accounting adjustments,
used: to safe and reliable child care and affordable and others will require additional rev-
1. To respond to the pandemic or its nega- health care, extend unemployment insurance enue.
tive economic impacts, including assistance to so that 18 million American workers can pay The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
households, small businesses, and nonprofits, their bills and support 27 million children with time of the gentleman has expired.
or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, an expanded Child Tax Credit and more than Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield
travel, and hospitality; 17 million low-wage childless workers through an additional 30 seconds to the gen-
2. For premium pay to eligible workers per- an improved Earned Income Tax Credit, which tleman from Texas.
forming essential work (as determined by each will reduce the number of children living in Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, what
recipient government) during the pandemic, poverty in America by 50 percent. our colleagues should be doing is com-
providing up to $13 per hour above regular I want to commend my colleagues and ing together to work with us to ensure
wages; House Speaker NANCY PELOSI for her leader- the permanent security of Medicare.
3. For the provision of government services ship and President Biden for signing into law Medicare works, but after 55 years, it
to the extent of the reduction in revenue due the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and I needs some updates. It has not pro-
to the pandemic (relative to revenues collected urge all Members to join me in voting to pass vided adequate protection against
in the most recent full fiscal year); and H.R. 1868, which excludes the budgetary ef- pharmaceutical price gouging; it does
4. To make necessary investments in water, fects of the American Rescue Plan Act from not cover most of dental, hearing, and
sewer, or broadband infrastructure. the scorecards established by the Statutory vision care; and, of course, too many
In addition to these funds, Texas will receive Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act of 2010, and Americans are just too young to ben-
$100 million out of the newly created $10 bil- thus precludes the implementation of direct efit from Medicare.
lion Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund for across the board cuts in spending. I believe we need to be working to-
‘‘critical capital projects directly enabling work, gether to make Medicare better and
education, and health monitoring, including re- b 1015
more widely available to more Ameri-
mote options, in response to the public health Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, cans, because health security is Amer-
emergency with respect to the Coronavirus I reserve the balance of my time. ican security.
Disease. Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker,
Now all that is well and good but let me tell 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas I reserve the balance of my time.
you what the American Rescue Plan Act (Mr. DOGGETT), a distinguished member Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield
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means for a hard-working and hard-pressed of the Budget Committee. 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Il-
single mother of two children making a modest Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, 55 years linois (Mrs. BUSTOS), a distinguished
income: ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson member of the Committee on Agri-
Stimulus checks: $1,400 × 3 = $4,200 overcame sustained Republican opposi- culture and Committee on Appropria-
Child tax credit: $3,600 (5-year-old) + tion to enact Medicare. It has been a tions.
$3,000 (9-year-old) = $6,600. Half of that literal lifeline for millions. Those who Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise
amount will be paid out periodically from late suffered without healthcare before today to support H.R. 1868. I know we
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H1598 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 19, 2021
have talked this morning about the im- ment in the RECORD immediately prior get $900 million, every congressional
portance of the bill protecting Medi- to the vote on the motion to recommit. district.
care. I want to talk with you for a cou- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there My friend from Missouri talked about
ple of minutes here about its protec- objection to the request of the gen- his family of four. I know his math is
tion of farm supports and other direct tleman from Missouri? better than this, but a family of four
spending as it pertains to our family There was no objection. doesn’t get $1,400, as he mentioned. A
farmers. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, family of four gets $1,400 times four,
As chair of the Subcommittee on let’s put the healthcare of our seniors which is $5,600, and then two children,
General Farm Commodities and Risk ahead of prisoners, illegal immigrants, depending on their ages, get at least
Management, this bill will protect crit- and the political class. $3,000 each. So that family of four is
ical resources like the Commodity Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance going to get $11,000 out of this bill.
Credit Corporation, resources that our of my time. The talk about future generations, I
family farmers depend on now more Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield love that. You know, I am sure that
than ever. myself the balance of my time. when the national debt reached $1 bil-
There are nearly 2 million farmers Mr. Speaker, the last couple of lion under Abraham Lincoln, there
across our Nation. In the district that months have been an incredibly busy were people saying: ‘‘Wow, we are lay-
I serve, we have close to 10,000 family time. The work that was done on the ing an incredible burden on our grand-
farms. But throughout our Nation, American Rescue Plan, from start to children.’’ When it reached $1 trillion
there is no farm that isn’t touched by finish, was extraordinary, and we owe under Ronald Reagan, I am sure there
the Commodity Credit Corporation, not our staffs an enormous debt of grati- were people saying the same thing. And
one American farmer who wouldn’t be tude, and not just the Budget Com- when it gets to $50 trillion, as it prob-
impacted by these cuts. In the district mittee staff, but the staff of the 12 ably will in the next couple of decades,
I serve, those close to 10,000 family committees that also contributed to people will be saying the same thing.
farmers would have fewer resources if the drafting of the American Rescue We have been accumulating debt for
this were to happen and would face Plan. our entire history, and yet no one has
challenges as they try to pay their bills I would like to take this time to read ever been asked to pay for that debt,
and put food on the table. the names of the Budget Committee and no one ever will.
The truth is, our family farmers have staff who pulled all-nighters, all-week- So all in all, we are very proud of the
seen an onslaught of challenges for enders, and went way beyond the call American Rescue Plan. The American
years, each year worse than the one be- of duty in doing the work on the Amer- people love the American Rescue Plan.
fore it: extreme weather conditions; ican Rescue Plan: This fix, which we ask for today, is
devastated crops; unstable and uncer- Erika Appel, Ellen Balis, Samantha something that, again, is just what the
Carter, Edward Etzkorn, Jose Guillen, Republicans asked to do in 2017. It is a
tain trade markets that held back ex-
Jocelyn Harris, Emily King, Sarah Lee, routine measure. Nobody wants to cut
ports and economic growth; and
Sheila McDowell, Diana Meredith, Medicare to providers and certainly
throughout the past year, a global pan-
Leyla Mocan, Kimberly Overbeek, Bar- benefits to our citizens. I am sure we
demic that has left many of our farm-
bara Pike, Katie Raymond, Scott Rus- will have a bipartisan vote on this
ers ravaged, even as they kept fighting
sell, Laura Santos, Raquel Spencer, today, and I urge all of my colleagues
for fellow Americans, to keep them fed.
Greg Waring, Alexandra Weinroth, to support H.R. 1868.
COVID–19 has impacted all of us. But, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
thankfully, we have never truly seen Christie Wentworth, Jennifer
of my time.
empty store shelves. We have our Wheelock, Sam Wice, Ted Zegers, and
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
American farmers to thank for that. Grady Stevens. I want to thank all of
ant to House Resolution 233, the pre-
We have our American farmers to them personally for their work on be- vious question is ordered on the bill.
thank for the stable food supply and half of the House. The question is on the engrossment
for the certainty that, even after years In closing, Mr. Speaker, I just want and the third reading of the bill.
of challenges, even at the height of this to say this: You know, we have heard a The bill was ordered to be engrossed
worldwide crisis, our American farmers lot of newly found concern about the and read a third time, and was read the
have had our backs. Now, it is time for deficit and the debt today. We heard it third time.
us to have theirs. during the debates. This is the same MOTION TO RECOMMIT
A vote against this bill is a vote to party that drove up the deficit 3 years Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker,
cut farm funding. I urge my colleagues ago, 4 years ago now, with a $2 trillion I have a motion to recommit at the
to vote to protect our family farmers tax cut, most of which benefitted the desk.
and vote ‘‘yes’’ on this critical bill. wealthiest Americans, and, according The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, I have to virtually everyone who has looked Clerk will report the motion to recom-
no further speakers, and I am prepared at it, didn’t even come close to paying mit.
to close. for itself. The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, What we have done in the American Mr. Smith of Missouri moves to recommit
I yield myself the balance of my time. Rescue Plan is give an incredible boost the bill, H.R. 1868 to the Committee on the
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I to the American people, the American Budget.
have introduced an alternative, a more people who need the boost most. Not The material previously referred to
responsible approach that protects our one dollar in the American Rescue by Mr. SMITH of Missouri is as follows:
seniors and rolls back some of the most Plan goes to the top 1 percent of Amer- Strike all after the enacting clause and in-
wasteful and absurd parts of the Demo- icans. The vast majority goes to sert the following:
cratic bailout bill. middle- and lower-income people strug- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
I would encourage my colleagues on gling to get by. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect Sen-
the other side of the aisle to put Amer- I am kind of amused when people iors and Cut Waste Act’’.
SEC. 2. PAYGO ACT SEQUESTER.
ica’s seniors ahead of their special in- talk about their States being cheated.
The budgetary effects of the American Res-
terest allies. Join us in finding a solu- The gentleman from Georgia talked cue Plan Act of 2021 shall not be counted for
tion that protects and respects Amer- about how Georgia was cheated. Under purposes of determining whether a sequester
ica’s seniors and the working class. We the American Rescue Plan, Georgia occurs under the report issued after Congress
will offer such a solution as a motion gets over $8 billion, twice as much as adjourns to end the 1st session of the 117th
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
to recommit. If adopted, it will in- Georgia got under the CARES Act. Congress and during January 2022 under sec-
struct the Budget Committee to con- That doesn’t even count all of the tion 5 of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act
sider an amendment to make the sen- money that is going to the Georgia of 2010.
SEC. 3. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR
sible cuts in waste offered in H.R. 1999, citizens. THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL
the Protect Seniors and Cut Waste Act. As I said, in every congressional dis- SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con- trict in this country, on average, the (a) SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.—There
sent to insert the text of this amend- people, the citizens we represent, will is appropriated, out of any amounts in the
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March 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1599
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for an guidance released by the Department of included in the enactment of the American
additional amount for ‘‘Public Health and Health and Human Services in June 2020, in- Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Social Services Emergency Fund’ ’’, cluding the difference between such pro- SEC. 5. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
$12,300,000,000, to remain available until ex- vider’s budgeted and actual revenue budget if (a) RURAL HEALTH CLINIC PAYMENTS.—
pended, to prevent, prepare for, and respond such budget had been established and ap- (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1833(f)(3) of the
to coronavirus, domestically or internation- proved prior to March 27, 2020. Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(f)(3)) is
ally, which shall be for necessary expenses to (11) Of the amount made available in the amended—
reimburse, through grants or other mecha- third paragraph under the heading ‘‘Depart- (A) in subparagraph (A)—
nisms, eligible health care providers for ment of Health and Human Services—Office (i) in clause (i), by striking subclauses (I)
health care related expenses or lost revenues of the Secretary—Public Health and Social and (II) and inserting the following:
that are attributable to coronavirus. Services Emergency Fund’’ in Public Law
(b) CONDITIONS.—The following conditions ‘‘(I) with respect to a rural health clinic
116–136, not less than 85 percent of the unob- that had a per visit payment amount estab-
shall apply with respect to funds appro- ligated balances available as of the date of
priated by subsection (a): lished for services furnished in 2020—
enactment of this Act and of any funds re- ‘‘(aa) the per visit payment amount appli-
(1) Such funds may not be used to reim- covered from health care providers after the
burse expenses or losses that have been reim- cable to such rural health clinic for rural
date of enactment of this Act shall be for health clinic services furnished in 2020, in-
bursed from other sources or that other any successor to the Phase 3 General Dis-
sources are obligated to reimburse. creased by the percentage increase in the
tribution allocation to make payments to el- MEI applicable to primary care services fur-
(2) Recipients of payments under this sec- igible health care providers based on applica-
tion shall submit reports and maintain docu- nished as of the first day of 2021; or
tions that consider financial losses and ‘‘(bb) the limit described in paragraph
mentation as the Secretary of Health and changes in operating expenses occurring in
Human Services determines are needed to (2)(A); and
fiscal year 2021 that are attributable to ‘‘(II) with respect to a rural health clinic
ensure compliance with conditions that are coronavirus.
imposed by this subsection for such pay- that did not have a per visit payment
(12) Not later than 3 years after final pay- amount established for services furnished in
ments, and such reports and documentation ments are made under this section, the Of-
shall be in such form, with such content, and 2020—
fice of Inspector General of the Department ‘‘(aa) the per visit payment amount appli-
in such time as the Secretary may prescribe of Health and Human Services shall transmit
for such purpose. cable to such rural health clinic for rural
a final report on audit findings with respect health clinic services furnished in 2021; or
(3) The term ‘‘eligible health care pro- to this program to the Committees on Ap-
viders’’ means public entities, Medicare or ‘‘(bb) the limit described in paragraph
propriations of the House of Representatives (2)(A); and’’; and
Medicaid enrolled suppliers and providers,
and the Senate. (ii) in clause (ii)(I), by striking ‘‘under
and such for-profit entities and not-for-profit
(13) Nothing in this section limits the au- clause (i)(I)’’ and inserting ‘‘under subclause
entities not otherwise described in this para-
thority of the Inspector General or the (I) or (II) of clause (i), as applicable,’’; and
graph as the Secretary may specify, within
Comptroller General to conduct audits of in- (B) in subparagraph (B)—
the United States (including territories),
terim payments at an earlier date. (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
that provide diagnoses, testing, or care for
(14) Not later than 60 days after the date of striking ‘‘2019, was’’ and inserting ‘‘2020’’;
individuals with possible or actual cases of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of (ii) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘was’’ after
COVID–19.
Health and Human Services shall provide a ‘‘(i)’’; and
(4) The Secretary shall, on a rolling basis,
report to the Committees on Appropriations (iii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting
review applications and make payments
under this section. of the House of Representatives and the Sen- the following:
(5) Funds appropriated under this section ate on the obligation of funds, including obli- ‘‘(ii)(I) was enrolled under section 1866(j)
shall be available for building or construc- gations to such eligible health care pro- (including temporary enrollment during the
tion of temporary structures, leasing of viders, summarized by State of the payment emergency period described in section
properties, medical supplies and equipment receipt. Such report shall be updated and 1135(g)(1)(B) for such period); or
including personal protective equipment and submitted to such Committees every 60 days ‘‘(II) submitted an application for enroll-
testing supplies, increased workforce and until funds are expended. ment under section 1866(j) (or requested such
(c) EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS.—
trainings, emergency operation centers, ret- a temporary enrollment for such period) that
(1) Amounts repurposed in subsection (b)
rofitting facilities, and surge capacity. was received not later than December 31,
that were previously designated by the Con-
(6) In this section, the term ‘‘payment’’ 2020.’’.
gress as an emergency requirement pursuant
means a pre-payment, prospective payment, (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments
to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Def-
or retrospective payment, as determined ap- made by this subsection shall take effect as
icit Control Act of 1985 are designated by the
propriate by the Secretary. if included in the enactment of the Consoli-
Congress as an emergency requirement pur-
(7) Payments under this section shall be dated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law
suant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Bal-
made in consideration of the most efficient 116–260).
anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
payment systems practicable to provide (b) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR CERTAIN HOS-
Act of 1985.
emergency payment. PITALS WITH HIGH DISPROPORATIONATE
(2) The amount appropriated by subsection
(8) To be eligible for a payment under this SHARE.—Effective as if included in the enact-
(a) is designated by the Congress as being for
section, an eligible health care provider shall ment of section 203(a) of title II of division
an emergency requirement pursuant to sec-
submit to the Secretary an application that CC of Public Law 116–260, subsection (g) of
tion 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget
includes a statement justifying the need of section 1923 of the Social Security Act (42
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
the provider for the payment and the eligible U.S.C. 1396r–4) amended by such section
(3) Each amount designated in this Act by
health care provider shall have a valid tax 203(a) is amended by adding at the end the
the Congress as an emergency requirement
identification number. following new paragraph:
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Bal-
(9) For any reimbursement by the Sec- ‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR CERTAIN HOS-
anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
retary from the Provider Relief Fund to an PITALS WITH HIGH DISPROPORATIONATE
Act of 1985 shall be available only if the
eligible health care provider that is a sub- SHARE.—
President subsequently so designates all
sidiary of a parent organization, the parent ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a hospital
such amounts and transmits such designa-
organization may, allocate (through trans- with high disproportionate share (as defined
tions to the Congress.
fers or otherwise) all or any portion of such (d) APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS.—Amounts in subparagraph (B)) located in a State ref-
reimbursement among the subsidiary eligi- appropriated pursuant to this section and erenced in subsection (e) of section 4721 of
ble health care providers of the parent orga- pursuant to title II of Public Law 117–2 shall the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, a payment
nization, including reimbursements referred be subject to the requirements contained in adjustment during a State fiscal year shall
to by the Secretary as ‘‘Targeted Distribu- Public Law 116–260 for funds for programs au- be considered consistent with subsection (c)
tion’’ payments, among subsidiary eligible thorized under sections 330 through 340 of the if the payment adjustment does not exceed
health care providers of the parent organiza- Public Health Service Act. 175 percent of the costs of furnishing hospital
tion, except that responsibility for reporting SEC. 4. CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY services during the year, but only if the Gov-
the reallocated reimbursement shall remain FUND ADJUSTMENT. ernor of the State certifies to the satisfac-
with the original recipient of such reim- (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 602 of the Social tion of the Secretary that the hospital’s ap-
bursement. Security Act is amended— plicable minimum amount is used for health
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
(10) For any reimbursement from the Pro- (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking services during the year. In determining the
vider Relief Fund to an eligible health care ‘‘$219,800,000,000’’ and inserting amount that is used for such services during
provider for health care related expenses or ‘‘$79,800,000,000’’; and a year, there shall be excluded any amounts
lost revenues that are attributable to (2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking received under the Public Health Service
coronavirus (including reimbursements made ‘‘$195,300,000,000’’ and inserting Act, title V, title XVIII, or from third party
before the date of the enactment of this Act), ‘‘$55,300,000,000’’. payors (not including the State plan under
such provider may calculate such lost reve- (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments this title) that are used for providing such
nues using the Frequently Asked Questions made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if services during the year.
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H1600 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 19, 2021
‘‘(B) HOSPITAL WITH HIGH (2) Section 2022 (relating to the National NAYS—216
DISPROPORATIONATE SHARE DEFINED.—In sub- Endowment for the Humanities). Adams Gomez Omar
paragraph (A), a hospital is a ‘hospital with (3) Section 4001 (relating to the Emergency Aguilar Gottheimer Pallone
high disproportionate share’ if— Federal Employee Leave Fund). Allred Green, Al (TX) Panetta
‘‘(i) the hospital is owned or operated by Auchincloss Grijalva Pappas
the State (or by an instrumentality or a unit The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Axne Harder (CA) Pascrell
of government within the State); and ant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX, the pre- Barragán Hastings Payne
vious question is ordered on the motion Bass Hayes Perlmutter
‘‘(ii) the hospital—
Beatty Higgins (NY) Peters
‘‘(I) meets the requirement described in to recommit. Bera Himes Phillips
subparagraphs (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1); The question is on the motion to re- Beyer Horsford Pingree
or Bishop (GA) Houlahan
commit. Pocan
‘‘(II) has the largest number of inpatient Blumenauer Huffman Porter
days attributable to individuals entitled to The question was taken; and the Blunt Rochester Jackson Lee Pressley
benefits under the State plan of any hospital Speaker pro tempore announced that Bonamici Jacobs (CA) Price (NC)
Bourdeaux Jayapal
in such State for the previous fiscal year. the noes appeared to have it. Bowman Jeffries
Quigley
‘‘(C) APPLICABLE MINIMUM AMOUNT DE- Raskin
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, Boyle, Brendan Johnson (GA)
Rice (NY)
FINED.—In subparagraph (A), the ‘applicable F. Johnson (TX)
on that I demand the yeas and nays. Ross
minimum amount’ for a hospital for a fiscal Brown Jones
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Roybal-Allard
year is equal to the difference between the Brownley Kahele
Ruiz
amount of the hospital’s payment adjust- ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution Bush Kaptur
Ruppersberger
ment for the fiscal year and the costs to the 8, the yeas and nays are ordered. Bustos Keating
Butterfield Kelly (IL) Rush
hospital of furnishing hospital services de- The vote was taken by electronic de- Ryan
Carbajal Khanna
scribed in paragraph (1)(A) during the fiscal Sánchez
vice, and there were—yeas 202, nays Cárdenas Kildee
year.’’. Carson Kilmer Sarbanes
SEC. 6. INDIVIDUALS NOT LAWFULLY PRESENT
216, not voting 11, as follows: Scanlon
Cartwright Kim (NJ)
IN UNITED STATES PRECLUDED [Roll No. 95] Case Kind Schakowsky
FROM 2021 RECOVERY REBATES. Casten Kirkpatrick Schiff
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6428B(c) of the In- YEAS—202 Castor (FL) Krishnamoorthi Schneider
ternal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by the Aderholt Gimenez Moolenaar Castro (TX) Kuster Schrader
Allen Gonzales, Tony Mooney Chu Lamb Schrier
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, is amend-
Amodei Gonzalez (OH) Moore (AL) Cicilline Langevin Scott (VA)
ed by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph Scott, David
Armstrong Good (VA) Moore (UT) Clark (MA) Larsen (WA)
(2), by redesignating paragraph (3) as para- Clarke (NY) Larson (CT) Sewell
Arrington Gooden (TX) Mullin
graph (4), and by inserting after paragraph Babin Gosar Cleaver Lawrence Sherman
Murphy (NC)
(2) the following new paragraph: Bacon Granger Nehls Clyburn Lawson (FL) Sherrill
‘‘(3) any individual who was not lawfully Baird Graves (LA) Newhouse Cohen Lee (CA) Sires
present in the United States as of the date of Balderson Graves (MO) Norman Connolly Lee (NV) Slotkin
the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Banks Green (TN) Obernolte Cooper Leger Fernandez Smith (WA)
Act of 2021, and’’. Barr Greene (GA) Owens Correa Levin (CA) Soto
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments Bentz Griffith Palazzo Costa Levin (MI) Spanberger
Bergman Grothman Palmer Courtney Lieu Speier
made by this section shall take effect as if Craig Lofgren
Bice (OK) Guest Pence Stanton
included in the enactment of section 9601 of Crist Lowenthal
Biggs Guthrie Perry Stevens
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Bilirakis Hagedorn Crow Luria
Pfluger Strickland
SEC. 7. INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS PRE- Bishop (NC) Harris Cuellar Lynch Suozzi
Posey
CLUDED FROM 2021 RECOVERY RE- Boebert Harshbarger Davids (KS) Malinowski Swalwell
Reed
BATES. Bost Hartzler Davis, Danny K. Maloney,
Reschenthaler Takano
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6428B(c) of the In- Brooks Hern Rice (SC)
Dean Carolyn B. Thompson (CA)
ternal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by the Buchanan Herrell DeFazio Maloney, Sean Thompson (MS)
Rodgers (WA)
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and Buck Herrera Beutler DeGette Manning
Rogers (AL) Titus
amended by the preceding provisions of this Bucshon Hice (GA) DeLauro Matsui
Rogers (KY) Tlaib
Budd Higgins (LA) DelBene McBath
Act, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end Rose
Delgado McCollum
Tonko
Burchett Hill Rosendale Torres (CA)
of paragraph (3), by redesignating paragraph Burgess Hinson Demings McEachin
(4) as paragraph (5), and by inserting after Rouzer Torres (NY)
Calvert Hollingsworth DeSaulnier McGovern
paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: Rutherford Deutch Trahan
Cammack Hudson McNerney
Salazar Trone
‘‘(4) any individual who was incarcerated Carl Huizenga Dingell Meeks
Scalise Doggett Meng Underwood
on the date of the enactment of the Amer- Carter (GA) Issa
Schweikert Vargas
ican Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and’’. Carter (TX) Jackson Doyle, Michael Mfume
Scott, Austin F. Moore (WI) Veasey
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments Cawthorn Jacobs (NY)
Sessions Escobar Morelle Vela
made by this section shall take effect as if Chabot Johnson (LA)
Simpson Eshoo Moulton Velázquez
included in the enactment of section 9601 of Cheney Johnson (OH)
Smith (MO) Espaillat Mrvan Wasserman
Cline Johnson (SD)
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Cloud Jordan
Smith (NE) Evans Murphy (FL) Schultz
SEC. 8. REQUIRING A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER Smith (NJ) Fletcher Nadler Waters
Clyde Joyce (OH)
TO RECEIVE COBRA CONTINUATION Cole Joyce (PA) Smucker Foster Napolitano Watson Coleman
COVERAGE. Comer Katko Spartz Frankel, Lois Neal Welch
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9501(a)(3) of the Crawford Keller Stauber Gallego Neguse Wexton
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Crenshaw Kelly (MS) Steel Garamendi Newman Wild
Curtis Kelly (PA) Stefanik Garcı́a (IL) Norcross Williams (GA)
Law 117–2) is amended—
Davidson Kim (CA) Steil Garcia (TX) O’Halleran Wilson (FL)
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking at the Steube
Davis, Rodney Kustoff Golden Ocasio-Cortez Yarmuth
end ‘‘and’’; Stewart
DesJarlais LaHood
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the pe- Diaz-Balart LaMalfa Stivers NOT VOTING—11
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and Donalds Lamborn Taylor
Tenney Brady Hoyer Nunes
(3) by adding at the end the following new Duncan Latta
Thompson (PA) Gohmert Kinzinger Roy
subparagraph: Dunn LaTurner Gonzalez, Lucas Wilson (SC)
‘‘(C) has been issued a social security num- Emmer Lesko Tiffany
Timmons Vicente McHenry Young
ber (as defined in section 24(h)(7) of the In- Estes Long
Fallon Loudermilk Turner
ternal Revenue Code of 1986) by the Social Upton
Security Administration.’’.
Feenstra Luetkemeyer
Valadao
b 1114
Ferguson Mace
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment Fischbach Malliotakis Van Drew
made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if Van Duyne
Messrs. O’HALLERAN, LEVIN of
Fitzgerald Mann
included in the enactment of section 9501 of Fitzpatrick Massie Wagner Michigan, CARSON, and Ms. BASS
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Fleischmann Mast Walberg changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to
SEC. 9. RESCISSIONS OF AMERICAN RESCUE Fortenberry McCarthy Walorski ‘‘nay.’’
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
PLAN ACT OF 2021 FUNDS. Foxx McCaul Waltz
Of the funds appropriated by the American Franklin, C. McClain Weber (TX) Messrs. CARL and STIVERS changed
Scott McClintock Webster (FL) their vote from ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2),
Fulcher McKinley Wenstrup
all unobligated funds available under the fol- Westerman So the motion to recommit was re-
Gaetz Meijer
lowing provisions of such Act are hereby re- Gallagher Meuser Williams (TX) jected.
scinded: Garbarino Miller (IL) Wittman
(1) Section 2021 (relating to the National Garcia (CA) Miller (WV) Womack The result of the vote was announced
Endowment for the Arts). Gibbs Miller-Meeks Zeldin as above recorded.
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March 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1601
MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE Maloney, Phillips Stanton NOT VOTING—8
RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS Carolyn B. Pingree Stauber
Brady Kinzinger Wilson (SC)
Maloney, Sean Pocan Stefanik
Allred (Davids Garbarino (Joyce Payne (Pallone) Gohmert McHenry Young
Manning Porter Stevens
(KS)) (OH)) Peters (Kildee) Hoyer Nunes
Matsui Pressley Strickland
Axne (Stevens) Grijalva (Garcı́a
Barragán (Beyer) (IL))
Pingree McBath Price (NC) Suozzi b 1200
(Cicilline) McCollum Quigley Swalwell
Bera (Aguilar) Hastings Porter (Wexton) McEachin Raskin Takano
Mrs. MURPHY of Florida changed
Bishop (GA) (Butterfield) Rodgers (WA) her vote from ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’
Kahele (Mrvan) McGovern Rice (NY) Tenney
(Butterfield) (Joyce (PA)) McKinley So the bill was passed.
Kim (NJ) (Davids Rogers (KY) Thompson (CA)
Blumenauer Rush
(Beyer) (KS)) McNerney Ross Thompson (MS) The result of the vote was announced
(Underwood) Meeks Roybal-Allard
Bourdeaux Kirkpatrick
Schneider
Titus as above recorded.
(Stanton) Meng Ruiz Tlaib A motion to reconsider was laid on
(Clark (MA)) (Aguilar) Mfume Ruppersberger
Langevin Tonko
Boyle, Brendan
(Lynch) Sires (Pallone) Miller-Meeks Rush the table.
F. (Jeffries) Torres (CA)
Lawson (FL) Slotkin Moore (WI) Ryan MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE
Buchanan Torres (NY)
(Evans) (Stevens) Morelle Salazar RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS
(Gimenez) Trahan
Lieu (Beyer) Smith (WA) Moulton Sánchez
Bucshon Trone Allred (Davids Garbarino (Joyce Moulton
Lowenthal (Courtney) Mrvan Sarbanes
(Walorski) Underwood (KS)) (OH)) (Underwood)
(Beyer) Timmons Murphy (FL) Scanlon Napolitano
Bush (Clark Upton Axne (Stevens) Gonzalez,
McEachin (Steube) Nadler Schakowsky (Correa)
(MA)) Valadao Barragán (Beyer) Vicente
(Wexton) Vargas (Correa) Napolitano Schiff Payne (Pallone)
Cárdenas Van Drew Bera (Aguilar) (Gomez)
Meng (Clark Wasserman Neal Schneider Peters (Kildee)
(Gomez) Vargas Bishop (GA) Grijalva (Garcı́a
(MA)) Schultz (Soto) Neguse Schrader Pingree
Cleaver (Davids Mfume (Brown) Veasey (Butterfield) (IL))
Watson Coleman Newhouse Schrier (Cicilline)
(KS)) Moore (WI) Vela Blumenauer Hastings
(Pallone) Newman Scott (VA) Porter (Wexton)
DeSaulnier (Beyer) Velázquez (Beyer) (Butterfield)
Williams (GA) Norcross Scott, David Rodgers (WA)
(Matsui) Moulton Wasserman Bourdeaux Kahele (Mrvan)
(Jacobs (CA)) O’Halleran Sewell (Joyce (PA))
DesJarlais (Underwood) Ocasio-Cortez Sherman Schultz (Clark (MA)) Kim (NJ) (Davids
Wilson (FL) Rush
(Fleischmann) Napolitano Omar Sherrill Waters Boyle, Brendan (KS)) (Underwood)
(Hayes)
Gaetz (Waltz) (Correa) Pallone Sires Watson Coleman F. (Jeffries) Kirkpatrick Schneider
Panetta Slotkin Welch Buchanan (Stanton) (Aguilar)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Wexton (Gimenez) Langevin
Pappas Smith (NJ) Sires (Pallone)
question is on the passage of the bill. Pascrell Smith (WA) Wild Bucshon (Lynch) Slotkin
The question was taken; and the Payne Soto Williams (GA) (Walorski) Lawson (FL) (Stevens)
Speaker pro tempore announced that Perlmutter Spanberger Wilson (FL) Bush (Clark (Evans) Smith (WA)
the noes appeared to have it. Peters Speier Yarmuth (MA)) Lieu (Beyer) (Courtney)
Cárdenas Lowenthal Timmons
Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. (Steube)
NAYS—175 (Gomez) (Beyer)
Speaker, on that I demand the yeas Cleaver (Davids McEachin Vargas (Correa)
and nays. Aderholt Good (VA) Moolenaar Wasserman
(KS)) (Wexton)
Allen Gooden (TX) Mooney Schultz (Soto)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Amodei Gosar Moore (AL)
DeSaulnier Meng (Clark
Watson Coleman
ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution Armstrong Granger Moore (UT) (Matsui) (MA))
(Pallone)
8, the yeas and nays are ordered. Arrington Graves (LA) Mullin DesJarlais Mfume (Brown)
Williams (GA)
Babin Graves (MO) (Fleischmann) Moore (WI)
The vote was taken by electronic de- Murphy (NC)
Gaetz (Waltz) (Beyer)
(Jacobs (CA))
Baird Green (TN) Nehls Wilson (FL)
vice, and there were—yeas 246, nays Balderson Greene (GA) Norman (Hayes)
175, not voting 8, as follows: Banks Griffith Obernolte
Barr Grothman f
[Roll No. 96] Owens
Bentz Guest Palazzo MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING
YEAS—246 Bice (OK) Guthrie Palmer THE VICTIMS OF RECENT SHOOT-
Adams Craig Hayes Biggs Hagedorn Pence
Aguilar Crist Herrera Beutler Bishop (NC) Harris Perry
INGS IN GEORGIA AND IN SOLI-
Allred Crow Higgins (NY) Boebert Harshbarger Pfluger DARITY WITH MEMBERS OF THE
Auchincloss Cuellar Himes Bost Hartzler
Axne Davids (KS) Horsford Brooks Hern
Posey AAPI COMMUNITY
Reed
Bacon Davidson Houlahan Buck Herrell
Reschenthaler The SPEAKER. The Chair asks all
Barragán Davis, Danny K. Huffman Bucshon Hice (GA) Members in the Chamber, as well as
Rice (SC)
Bass Dean Jackson Lee Budd Higgins (LA)
Beatty DeFazio Jacobs (CA) Burchett Hill
Rodgers (WA) Members and staff throughout the Cap-
Rogers (AL) itol, to rise for a moment of silence in
Bera DeGette Jacobs (NY) Burgess Hinson
Rose
Bergman DeLauro Jayapal Calvert Hollingsworth
Rosendale honor of the victims of the horrific
Beyer DelBene Jeffries Cammack Hudson shootings in Georgia this week and in
Rouzer
Bilirakis Delgado Johnson (GA) Carl Huizenga
Bishop (GA) Demings Johnson (TX) Carter (GA) Issa
Roy solidarity with all members of the
Rutherford AAPI community facing discrimina-
Blumenauer DeSaulnier Jones Carter (TX) Jackson
Scalise
Blunt Rochester Deutch Kahele Cawthorn Johnson (LA)
Schweikert
tion and violence.
Bonamici Dingell Kaptur Chabot Johnson (OH)
Bourdeaux Doggett Katko Cheney Johnson (SD) Scott, Austin f
Bowman Doyle, Michael Keating Cline Jordan Sessions
Simpson CONDEMNING MILITARY COUP IN
Boyle, Brendan F. Kelly (IL) Cloud Joyce (OH)
F. Dunn Khanna Clyde Joyce (PA) Smith (MO) BURMA
Smith (NE)
Brown Escobar Kildee Cole Keller
Smucker
The SPEAKER. Pursuant to clause 8
Brownley Eshoo Kilmer Comer Kelly (MS) of rule XX, the unfinished business is
Buchanan Espaillat Kim (CA) Crawford Kelly (PA) Spartz
Bush Evans Kim (NJ) Crenshaw Kustoff Steel the vote on the motion to suspend the
Bustos Fitzpatrick Kind Curtis LaHood Steil rules and agree to the resolution (H.
Butterfield Fleischmann Kirkpatrick Davis, Rodney LaMalfa Steube Res. 134) condemning the military coup
Carbajal Fletcher Krishnamoorthi DesJarlais Lamborn Stewart
Stivers that took place on February 1, 2021, in
Cárdenas Fortenberry Kuster Diaz-Balart Latta
Carson Foster Lamb Donalds LaTurner Taylor Burma and the Burmese military de-
Cartwright Frankel, Lois Langevin Duncan Lesko Thompson (PA) tention of civilian leaders, calling for
Case Gallego Larsen (WA) Emmer Long Tiffany the release of all those detained and for
Casten Garamendi Larson (CT) Estes Loudermilk Timmons
Turner those elected to serve in Parliament to
Castor (FL) Garbarino Lawrence Fallon Lucas
Castro (TX) Garcia (CA) Lawson (FL) Feenstra Luetkemeyer Van Duyne resume their duties, and for other pur-
Chu Garcı́a (IL) Lee (CA) Ferguson Mace Wagner poses, on which the yeas and nays were
Cicilline Garcia (TX) Lee (NV) Fischbach Mann Walberg ordered.
Clark (MA) Gimenez Leger Fernandez Fitzgerald Massie Walorski
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
Clarke (NY) Golden Levin (CA) Foxx Mast Waltz
Cleaver Gomez Levin (MI) Franklin, C. McCarthy Weber (TX) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
Clyburn Gonzalez, Lieu Scott McCaul Webster (FL) question is on the motion offered by
Cohen Vicente Lofgren Fulcher McClain Wenstrup the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Connolly Gottheimer Lowenthal Gaetz McClintock Westerman MEEKS) that the House suspend the
Cooper Green, Al (TX) Luria Gallagher Meijer Williams (TX)
Correa Grijalva Lynch Gibbs Meuser Wittman rules and agree to the resolution.
Costa Harder (CA) Malinowski Gonzales, Tony Miller (IL) Womack The vote was taken by electronic de-
Courtney Hastings Malliotakis Gonzalez (OH) Miller (WV) Zeldin vice, and there were—yeas 398, nays 14,
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